The Old Lighthouse in Sunny Shore Bay (Sunny Shore Bay Book 8): Escape to the British seaside with t

Chapter Seven

I collect Penny from school at the usual time, and I wait at our usual spot under the big oak tree by the school gates. The least I can do is remain consistent for her, given that our current situation is so very unpredictable.

‘Are we going back to Mia’s house?’ Penny swings her hand in mine as we walk to the car, as carefree as anything.

I swallow hard. ‘Yes, my love.’

‘Yay!’ To my surprise, she jumps up and down so energetically, her school bag bashes me in the leg on beat. ‘I love it there, it’s so small and homey. And I love Hettie too, she makes the cutest little sound, like this.’ She purrs happily. ‘Can we get a cat, Mummy?’

‘Maybe one day,’ I reply vaguely.

If only things were as simple and sweet as there are in Penny’s world. But out here in the real, adult world, things are complex and ugly and cruel, and worse, mostly out of your control.

Jerry took control of my life the day I married him, and I’ve been at the mercy of his whims ever since then. That was hard enough to grapple with, but I could never have predicted his fads and fancies would lead to us losing our home. Despite everything, I’m worried about him. He’s putting us through hell and this whole mess is entirely his fault, but I don’t want him to suffer, to feel lonely without his family. Although I’ve fallen out of love with him, I still care about him. You can’t just turn your feelings on and off like a light switch.

That train of thought stirs up images of the old lighthouse, and the mystery man I met up there. Who was he? And why was he sneaking into an abandoned building in the first place? Okay, sure, I had no business being up there either, but still, I’m curious. What kind of bloke lurks about in unused lighthouses, and for what reason?

‘Are you okay, Mummy?’ Penny peers up at me. ‘You’ve gone red.’

‘I’m wonderful, darling!’ I assure her as I fan my face. ‘It must be the heat, that’s all. Come on, let’s get back to Mia’s. She said she’s making fish cakes for tea.’

Sure enough, the rich, buttery scent hits us the second we turn the spare key in the lock. The small, round kitchen table is laid with a red and white cloth and Mia’s brought out her best crystal wine glasses, filled to the brim with rosé for me and her and Ribena for Penny.

‘Dinner is served.’ She gestures for us to sit down.

‘This all looks amazing, Mia,’ I beam at her. ‘You didn’t have to go to all this trouble for us.’

‘Oh, please! It’s no trouble at all. Now, tuck in, I’ve got a lovely trifle for dessert.’

The promise of trifle is enough to get Penny shoveling down her meal.

‘Manners, darling,’ I remind her gently.

However, Mia seems unoffended by my daughter’s dinnertime etiquette. ‘Don’t worry about that here, she’s fine! I’m just glad to see she’s enjoying it.’

I look at Penny, and realise that Mia’s right. If we were dining at Tamara’s house, I’d be hissing at Penny to sit up straight, to stop playing with her food, to smooth down her dress lest it get all wrinkled. Tamara would be on her daughters Bella and Chloe like a hawk too, it was like we were participating in an unspoken competition - who’s kids are the most well behaved, who’s the best mum -

Who has the best husband, the voice mocks me, it’s cruel words hissing in my ear, who has the nicest house …

After dessert, Penny goes to bed quietly and without a fuss. She’s a good girl normally, but recently, she’s been even more compliant, and it makes me wonder if she’s more aware of our dire situation than she’s letting on. Once she’s all tucked in and we’ve read her story together, I traipse back into the living room, where Mia and Hettie are waiting with a chick-flick on the telly and a top up of rosé in our glasses.

‘Sounds as though Penny settled down quickly,’ Mia comments as I sit down beside her on the old, plaid sofa. ‘I bet Hettie will go and join her in bed in a minute.’

I try to chuckle, but it comes out more like a sob. ‘Mia … I’m sorry about it all this,’ I mumble guiltily into my glass.

Mia waves a hand in the air, dismissing my apology. ‘Don’t be! You guys can stay as long as you like, you know that.’

‘And I’m so grateful, but I don’t want to get in the way of your life, you know? Your work, your relationship, let’s face it, we’re kind of cramping your style here.’

‘Nonsense! I have a music room for my lessons and James understands the situation, he doesn’t mind a bit.’

But I do. The thought of Mia tactfully explaining ‘the situation’ to her boyfriend sets my whole body aflame. It’s all so embarrassing, shameful, even though it was Jerry who caused this, I’m the one who’s dealing with the fallout, trying to protect Penny from it all.

I drain the last of my wine and stand up stiffly. ‘I’m going to bed.’

‘Oh, really? You don’t want to watch the end of the film?’

Firmly, I shake my head. ‘I’ve got a shift at the ice cream parlour in the morning, and I want to be fresh for it.’

‘Alright.’ She seems unconvinced but swiftly drops the matter, as I’m clearly in no mood for discussions. ‘Night, then!’

Penny is deep in dreams when I crawl into bed beside her. I hold her tiny frame close to me, breathing in her sweet, warm scent, feeling her little heart beat against my palm.

‘I’ll get us back on track, sweetheart,’ I whisper determinedly. ‘I promise.’